Reduced perception of bodily signals in anorexia nervosa.
OBJECTIVE
Interoceptive awareness is known to be impaired in eating disorders. To date, it has remained unclear whether this variable is related to the construct of interoceptive sensitivity. Interoceptive sensitivity is considered to be an essential variable in emotional processes. The objective of the study was to elucidate this potential relationship and to clarify whether general interoceptive sensitivity is reduced in anorexia nervosa.


METHODS
Using a heartbeat perception task, interoceptive sensitivity was assessed in 28 female patients with anorexia nervosa and 28 matched healthy controls. Questionnaires assessing interoceptive awareness (EDI) and several other variables were also administered.


RESULTS
Patients with anorexia nervosa displayed significantly decreased interoceptive sensitivity. They also had more difficulties in interoceptive awareness.


CONCLUSIONS
In addition to a decreased ability to recognize certain visceral sensations related to hunger, there is a generally reduced capacity to accurately perceive bodily signals in anorexia nervosa. This highlights the potential importance of interoceptive sensitivity in the pathogenesis of eating disorders.
Pollatos
Olga
O
Department of Psychology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich, Germany. pollatos@psy.uni-muenchen.de
Kurz
Anne-Lene
AL
Albrecht
Jessica
J
Schreder
Tatjana
T
Kleemann
Anna Maria
AM
Schöpf
Veronika
V
Kopietz
Rainer
R
Wiesmann
Martin
M
Schandry
Rainer
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D001364:Awareness / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D010465:Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult